trubluelefty's Comments (124)

“I lived in Afghanistan and worked there, and Iraq, and I am now in Viet Nam...... and have been here most of the time since 1972............can you say the same? I only left my work as a volunteer in these countries, as an RN to go back to the US and volunteer to work for the Democrat's and Obama...........”

“You make an assumption that the army you are training in Afghanistan is somehow going to be more loyal to a foreign power than to their families or their tribes. Based on my experience in the area, you are wrong.”

“Thanks for spelling that out. We were devoted, many of us, we worked for a cause and for a country. We saw a new place in the world for a country we love. I live in Viet Nam. I have worked in Cambodia during the war, Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine. I believe I understand war. How does a guy give a Middle East Speech all about getting along and then turn around and send in tens of thousands of more troops to prop up a fraud government that thrives on illegal drug trades. Something is terribly wrong here. I have driven from Pakistan up the Khyber pass and into Kabul. I have my picture in fields of poppy's that could have been destroyed with a single crop duster, no one wanted the destroyed. It's all a game. I got suckered into it. It might be too early to say but I will never vote again. Ever.”

“Read up on the subject and then come back and comment. It is America's policies overseas that put us where we are today. Afghanistan and Pakistan took interest in us first? Come on....... we were backing anti Soviet forces in the 70's and the people suffered greatly as Bin Laden came to the rescue.

Thank you Michael for telling it as it is.......... I gave my heart and soul to the Obama campaign as well as my money. I regret it profoundly today. The options seem to be just to give up. There will always be people who are babbling about escalating to 'win' wars such as this which will never be won by the US, ever. It is a myth. Wake up.”

“Now that he has made this decision isn't it a bit late for him to 'be true to us?" I feel like I got sold a bad bill of goods......... No one was more Pro Obama than I was ........I did not just lose my President with this decision I lost the dream of my life to have a President that would represent me. He does not and has not since he took office, tragically. If he lost me.........he has lost many others.”

“Smelling won't always work ...... you could go to my profile and know that I am absolutely NOT Puma. I have always been Pro Obama from the earliest days........ It is in my long history on Huff Po. Health care was tragic enough but this?”

“I voted for him, I worked for him, I wept with total joy when he was elected. It was a sham. I was had. Any day dreams about this being an intention to 'clean up a mess and get out' is just way too naive. This is Afghanistan that we are talking about. I have worked there. I can assure you that you will never ever make friends there by increasing one single boot on the ground. Ask Pat Tillman's family. What a horrible nightmare for the US. Time to take down those bumper stickers. I will most likely vote for him again because there will be no other options or like millions of others I will just stay home because it doesn't matter at all.”

“Texaggie.I live in Viet Nam.I came to VN during the war in the 70's.and went to India for 12 years and then returned to Viet Nam. During 2nd Intifada I came to here more about the ME. I wanted to know more so came to the ME. First trip was to Iraq with Veteran's for Peace.Learned so much about the ME and decided to take time off from VN and figure out what's up with Palestine? I spent some time with ISM, then working at the PR department of An Najah in the West Bank. I have never had such a life altering experience. Living in occupied, rockets flying over, and drone infested place in my life was not describable. Terrifying and exciting. . It was horrible, I was diminished, But I met the best people in my time there. Israeli and Palestinian's. I was invited by friends in Iraq to travel to Afghanistan.

Spent a great deal of time there and even taught in schools. Message to US Back off. The Afghani's don't need your dhit chat or democracy. Free elections they would appreciate. Women's rights........... irk that statement. I know so many strong women.”

“Resign? I don't think so but maybe you were just trying to get our attention. Should we stay in Afghanistan even one second longer? For someone who had worked there, NO.......”

“I'm with n4m lot's sane people come to Huff Po to read articles such as this and we are patient as well as realistic and we are still optimistic .........”

“Thank You Simon NZ”

“jackstpaul is making sense”

“I am an American RN who took a few years of my life off to go and volunteer in Nablus. You want to talk about being bombed for years! This article is so far off base it is sad. My time spent in Palestine opened up a whole new world for me. Who is the terrorist? Did you not just see the slaughter of innocent children a few months back by the Israeli army. Even 'liberal Jew's" realize what a great tragedy this is. The only thing that saved me from going totally insane were the wonderful Jewish people that I met with Gush Shalom, Rabbi's for Peace, Jews Against The Occupation. That is who deserves credit. This article is so off center and it contradicts most of what I think I just read from Arianna's recent visit. What the heck is it doing here and what are you so 100 percent about?”

“I've been there, worked there.......... those guys are not getting ready to fight anyone except the USA. I understand what it feels like to be "invaded" having spent time in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan. Who thinks the Afghani people want American's in their land? Why should they for what? So they can be raped, sodomized, and destroyed like Iraq. ............ The 'inept' young men are mobolizing against the enemy.”

“worse than G.W?

Please ........... let's at least see how it goes before we dismiss him and label him worse than G.W. were you asleep during that 8 years or just don't care?”

“I still have my home but medical bills wiped out everything else. I had a botched knee replacement and no insurance after the 3rd month. I spent my life savings on medication and physical therapy. Finally moved back to Viet Nam, a communist country, where I can afford medical care and PT. My heart breaks for people who do not have options and are going through what I went through two years ago. For those who would dismiss us as "whiners" take a hike. Nothing is more painful then spending your last dime on medicine, or worse yet not taking it because you just can't afford it and what makes it worse is I had lived overseas and knew that I could but it for a fraction of the cost. PT cost about ten dollars a session with a real person who truly cares if I am going to improve or not working with me and helping me to walk again. I arrived in a wheel chair in May thinking I would never walk normally again. I am well on my way back. Bravo Michael for shinning the light.”

“Good to see Jason!!”

“Thank you so much Dana for writing this. As you know I was in Viet Nam and very much a part of Operation Babylift.”

“Excellent!”

“You can read this article or you can read the one and watch Jon Steward showing the 'press' reaction to the Cairo speech........ I don't see what free ride there was in that.”

“Sad there are only about 80 comments on this outstanding article. I have lived and dreamed of a day that I would hear a US President say what President Obama just did and the coverage of it makes me want to weep. Thanks to Huff Po for putting it on the front page.”

“Memories are short but Huff Po had a "Russert Watch" for a long time. He was a good man. I respect him and I miss him as he was far better then what we have now but he was not popular here at all for quite some time. Great post Arianna. I think the post about getting the real news from Letterman, The View, during the election about summed it up for me. Jon Stewart is the best. There is no question that no one can compare with what he does. Waiting to see where we are goign tonight.”

“Why do people come in to simply comment on but not read the material in the articles, I wonder. Just amazing to see that no one cares to learn, understand, read, or research the problem from any view point other than their own already set ways. Children in Gaza were murdered. Hundreds of them. Wrap a visual around that as plenty are available online and try to imagine ever reversing such a situation. Palestine life is cheap for some of the 'readers' in here.”

“This is not about being a 'dem'. Did you read the article or the headline? go back and read it. Excellent”

“Well said. My facebook is news you can't find on CNN because I go to different sites and find the 'news' and run my own mini world with my own opinion shaped by the many people here. I feel that I have gone through this Gaza nightmare with my friends.”